Friday Childless Shopping Trip. Yay!

After dumping (I mean...dropping off) my kids at Mom's Morning Out this morning (which by the way is one of the most amazing things on earth- thank you Ms. Anny!) I headed out to do some solo shopping. It was a good day!

All of these groceries (as well as some not pictured because they were already dropped off at the donation collection point headed for Joplin) for $54.76. Got plenty to eat now, tons to put in our store room and some donations! I know the picture isn't very good, since I took it with my phone, so here's a list of what's in there (and the not-pictured stuff)!

3 tubs of icing

3 cake mixes

8 ears of corn

a gallon of milk

3 pert plus 2-in-1

a box of nexcare bandages

4 cans campbell's pork and beans

4 bottles of French's mustard

a bunch of bananas

6 packages of hotdogs

a watermelon

a box of snuggle fabric softener sheets

10 cups of yoplait yogurt

4 boxes of jello mixes

morningstar farms chik patties

morningstar farms griller patties

3 boxes of crystal light

2 bottles of ranch dressing

2 bags of marshmallows

2 packages of Hershey bars

2 boxes of graham crackers

1 bottle of Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce

and a cantalope. :)

I did have an extremely rude cashier at Walmart who got all upset with me for get the six packages of hotdogs, snuggle sheets, three bottles of pert plus and the box of nexcare bandages for just over $3. Like I somehow stole them from her or something. Ridiculous. Oh well, worth it to be able to donate more to those people in Joplin who need so much right now.

I didn't do my Walgreens trip today since I did it on Sunday...and it was a success too! Between the Walmart Bar-S deal and the Walgreens Oscar Meyer deal we have a freezer full of hotdogs! Needless to say we will not be buying hotdogs for the rest of the summer! Anyone want to cook out? :) Hope everyone enjoys this beautiful, long weekend!

My Monday Shopping Trip (and an amusing mommy story)

It's a gorgeous day here in Missouri. After a weekend of nothing but cold and rain, I decided we should head out and do our coupon shopping this afternoon. I got my shopping list and coupons together and we headed to Wentzville. Our first stop was at Target. I had all three kiddos in the cart and had to get two bottles of lotion. I got them and gave the kids firm instructions NOT to open the lotion. Any bets on whether the lotion made it to the checkout line unopened?


So then we went to Walgreens. I had several things on my list to get and I knew I would need to do at least three transactions. There were a few problems right off the bat. The first of these problems was that my daughter needed a nap...badly. She was in "so help me if you look at me wrong I will make you wish you'd never been born" mode. So just getting her to cooperate at all was a chore. The second problem was the cart did not have a strap. Since we've already established my littlest's fond affection for freedom, I don't think I need to elaborate on this one. Finally, as my cart was starting to get full, Kai looks at me and says he needs to go potty. I told him that we were almost ready to check out and then I would take him. He looked at me with a horrified look and informed me that he couldn't wait...as in, it was too late. He was devestated, since he's been potty trained for awhile and hasn't had an accident in public since I can't remember when.

Of course, I couldn't take all three of them to the bathroom because I had a cart full of things I had not yet purchased and I couldn't take Kaesen out or I wouldn't be able to help Kai. Quite the dilemma. Oh, did I mention Kaytie hated the world at this point? So a sweet employee offered to stay with Kaesen and the cart while I took Kai to the potty, as the poor little guy was in tears by now. Kaytie refused to stay with the kind lady, so she got to tag along. Of course someone was in the handicapped stall, so we squeezed all three of us into the itty bitty stall. After getting Kai cleaned up we headed to the check out line. (I decided the rest of my items would just have to wait.) Attempting to keep coupons straight, keep Kaesen in his seat and keep Kaytie from rolling around on the floor like a pig in the mud proved a wee bit difficult. But, I managed to leave the store with my sanity intact. And here are the fruits of my labor.






The total price for these items BEFORE coupons or Register Rewards was $54.03.
I paid $17.86 or about $1.19 per item. That's a savings of $36.17. Not too shabby considering the circumstances.

Of course, after I loaded everyone in the van and got nearly out of town, I remembered that I had forgotten to pick up my prescription while I was at Walgreens. So I had to turn around and go back. And of course it wasn't ready yet. So now my darling husband will have to pick it up on his way home from work. Silly me...it IS, after all, Monday.

Baby Update

Today, Korbin and I went back to the doctor for our check-up. I was a bit apprehensive. I wasn't so much concerned that there would be bad news, just that I might have to face unpleasant realities that I had, for the past couple of weeks, been able to tell myself were not inevitable. I armed myself with a notebook full of questions and headed into the unknown.

Baby Korbin is doing absolutely perfect. He's growing exactly like he should. And he's definately one of my boys...he refused to let her get his heart rate and kicked her every time she tried- exactly like his brothers. I am also doing well...good blood pressure, etc.

The doctor was very glad to hear that we had experienced no issues in the past month- no bleeding, no contractions. So here's the total run-down of what our next few months look like.

IF there continues to be NO bleeding or contractions, she will allow the pregnancy to progress exactly like a normal pregnancy. This is a HUGE relief. There is no point at which bedrest is inevitable, hospitalization is inevitable or early delivery is inevitable so long as there are no obvious reasons to do those things. They will do another ultrasound at 30 weeks and if everything is exactly the same and the placenta has not moved they will do an MRI to check for accreta. If they do find evidence of that, there will be extra precautions taken during delivery, but still no bleeding means no mandatory bedrest.

This is a really big deal, since I have three other little ones to care for and knowing that there's at least a chance that I could get to be home with them and continue caring for them for the duration of the pregnancy is a major relief. Also, we have a vacation planned the beginning of July. We figured we would not be able to go, but she said again, so long as there is no bleeding, to just go and relax and enjoy ourselves. This may not seem like a big deal to many people, but the thought of having to tell my little ones (who have been talking about going to Florida since we got home from last year's trip) that we couldn't go, absolutely broke my heart. I am ecstatic that my babies may still get to go to the beach.

Now all of this is super awesome news, but it does come with a HUGE "IF". If I bleed, all bets are off- everything changes. Bedrest, hospitalization, amniocentesis to check for lung maturity and delivery of the baby as soon as is possibly safe are what can be expected if we have bleeding. So, although I am very excited by the news, I realize that things can change at a moment's notice. I still have to take it easy, but we will pray that just adapting my activities for now will be enough to keep me from bleeding and let us get this little guy to full term.

I am so grateful for all of your prayers, they were definately felt!

That Milk Costs WHAT?!?!

I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed, but life got REALLY expensive the last few months. Between gas and groceries alone, the price differences are OUTRAGEOUS. I don't want to be negative, but I have yet to see any indication of it getting any better. And with unemployment STILL on the rise, I know we're not the only ones getting sticker shock at the store (or pump).

We mommas normally have a lot of discretion on where spending takes place in our families. And many stay at home moms have a hard time feeling like they aren't contributing financially. The way that I've been able to find a way to contribute and spend the money my husband brings home wisely, is by couponing. In case you are not already convinced of the awesomeness of couponing let me just clarify a couple of things here.

By couponing, I do not mean that I clip a coupon for something I'm going to buy and then buy it. Yes, if you only do this, you're probably better off buying generic items than name brand, even with a coupon. The couponing I'm talking about takes some time. It requires a plan, very little brand loyalty, a strategy. You can't just walk into a store and wander aimlessly. You have to know exactly what you're getting- not whatever you have a coupon for.

I won't get into the details of "how" to coupon because this information is readily available from just about anywhere. Two sites I would recommend are http://thekrazycouponlady.com and www.savingmoneyinmissouri.com Both of these sites have sections for beginners that can teach you the ins and outs of coupon shopping.

I feel like couponing is one of the best ways that you can provide for your family in this economy, and here's why. When you need to buy something, there are essentially two ways you can do it. You can buy it when you need it, which leaves you at the mercy of the store's current prices- or you can plan to buy as much as you will need of it for a period of time when it's at rock bottom price and then when you need it, you already have it...meaning you don't EVER have to pay the outrageous full price for the item.
(I will add that you very seldom see coupons for milk, meat, produce, etc. I try to get these things using catalina coupons from other purchases to save even more money.)

Also, by using this stockpiling method, you have the added peace of mind of knowing that if something terrible should happen and you are unable to get somewhere to buy food or supplies, your family is cared for and can live off your stockpile for some time.

Finally, in a down economy it's harder and harder for us to give to those who need it. Especially when it seems EVERYONE needs it right now. By couponing or stockpiling, you can inexpensively (often freely) get items that can be donated immediately or added to your stockpile to be given away when the need arises.

Oh, and did I mention that already having items that you need saves needless trips to the store? (read: gas money)

It's all about planning ahead. The Proverbs 31 woman laughed without fear of the future. She didn't fear the winter. She knew she had done everything she needed to do to provide for her family- AND she reached outstretched arms to the needy. This is one way that we as mommies can follow in those footsteps. So take some time to look around the web this week. You don't have to jump in the couponing pool, just get your toes wet if you like. See if this method might work for you and your family.

And what about all you wise mommas out there who are awesome at thriftiness? What is your favorite way to save money on necessary items?

PS...if anyone has any really great ways to save a bundle on gas (and "stop driving" does not count as a great way), by all means hook a sista up! ;-)

My thoughts on Osama's Death: WARNING- this is not politically correct

"The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed; they shout for joy when the godless die."- Proverbs 11:10

I am well aware that I will probably not make any friends with this post. In fact, I will probably greatly offend some people. But these are my own personal thoughts and I feel like some of my Christian friends have been stirring up guilt and confusion in the minds of other believers- which hurts my heart. I don't think they mean to, but I think it's something I would like to address. I could be completely wrong in my analysis of the situation. These are only my thoughts and opinions and I don't state them to be interpretted as absolute truth. Still, it's something to think about. And it's how I feel personally convicted on the issue.

When I saw that Osama had died, I was elated. Finally the man who gloatingly murdered thousands of innocents had been brought to justice. He was no longer able to inflict pain on innocent people or spew his hatred to those who would act on his words.

As I watched this unfold on television and online I was then confronted with many Christian friends making a big deal about how we should not be happy that he was dead, since he died without knowing Christ- even making it seem as if we were terrible people for rejoicing. Hm. Well, that poses an ethical dilemma I suppose. But the more I thought about it, the more irritated that made me, and I'll explain why.

There are several arguments people are making for why we should not celebrate the death of this horrible man. I'd like to respond to a few of them.

First of all: "you should not repay evil with evil." I find this one a bit mind-boggling to be honest. Do we really have such a skewed view of good vs. evil? I would argue that removing a man from the face of the earth who slaughtered innocent people with pleasure is not evil. This is the same argument that villifies our men and women who are protecting our nation overseas by saying that taking any life is evil. I disagree strongly with this argument, and I think that this argument can hold water only for believers who hold only to the New Testament as there is overwhelming evidence of God sanctioning war in the Old Testament. If God is absolutely perfect and good and always has been, how can you make that argument?

The next argument is that if we celebrate, we are no better than "them." Again, the lines between good and evil are blurred so badly in our nation that we cannot draw the line between a celebration of jubilant individuals dressed in ski masks, setting things on fire, shooting weapons into the sky with elation over the death of people whose only crime was to get up and go to work that day, or board an airplane and the rejoicing of a group of people draped in their nations flag, visiting the memorials of those who were tragically taken and celebrating the death of man who unrepentantly murdered thousands of people and called for the murder of thousands more, including the obliteration of whole nations. I don't see how you can even make a moral equivelant between the two.

When the argument is made that we should not rejoice in his death because we are believers who should not rejoice in anyone's death, I have to think of the death of Hitler. They were not so uncommon. Both called for and carried out the slaughter of innocents. Both were hunted. Both died cowardly deaths. There was no honor in these lives. And the people of America celebrated (along with the rest of the world) when he was announced dead. Am I to believe that we, as a generation are just "that much closer to God" than those of that generation. That we are too "godly" to rejoice over the death of such a man while they obviously cared nothing for the ways of God? All indications from what I can see of how our two generations have responded to God show that far more individuals from that generation were concerned with the ways of God than of our current generation. So how could they justify this celebration? My guess is that they understood the whole picture of God far better than we do. And here's what I mean.

Our nation, and frankly our entire generation, globally speaking, has put God in this pretty little box- trying to make him who we want him to be. We want him to be appealing to the masses without offending anyone. We loooove to talk about how loving, gracious, merciful our God is. And we should! He is absolutely loving, gracious and merciful. But for as much as he is those things, he is every bit as much righteous, holy and just. We just don't like to talk about those things because they might be offensive. God doesn't need our favors. He will punish the wicked and avenge the innocent, and sometimes he uses other nations or people to exact his will.

We should be just as jubilant about his willingness to bring the wicked to justice as we are his willingness to forgive the wicked who repent. That man was given nearly 10 years after the 9/11 attacks when he could have repented. When the Scripture says that he "does not delight in the death of the evil" but wants them to repent, of COURSE he does. Yes, he died for Osama bin Laden, too. Yes, he would have forgiven him if he had repented. Yes, it would have been wonderful if he had. Can you even imagine the impact of this man repenting publicly and encouraging his followers to turn from their evil ways? And yes, God showed his exceeding mercy by keeping us from finding him for nearly 10 years and giving him every opportunity to repent. But at the appropriate time, God saw fit to say, "Enough is enough. You have scorned me and inflicted pain on the people of the world long enough. Judgement has come."

We should be just as adoring of THAT attribute of God as we are of his mercy. He plucked from the earth a man who was evil to his core. God knew his heart in ways no man on earth did. He knew whether he would ever turn to him. His death did not surprise God. God determines a man's days. The choice was His, not ours. And we are delighted by His wisdom and sovereignty.

As for those who believe we should be mourning over his lost soul, I can understand the sentiment. God wanted him to repent. We should have wanted him to repent. But what's done is done. A wicked man was brought to justice by the hand of God and we should not feel guilty for celebrating this fact. When the Egyptians were drowned in the Red Sea, the people of God danced and celebrated God's omnipotent hand in rescuing them from their enemies. And I don't ever remember reading that David mourned Goliath's lost soul. And David was "a man after God's own heart." Are we so much more "godly" than he?

As for the "let's don't celebrate or we'll make 'them' mad" argument- I think that's the most ridiculous. Those who aligned themselves with this evil man will be 'mad' and retaliate whether or not we celebrate his death. Those who did not, would not be offended in the least, as they would see him as appalling a figure as we do. If anything, it draws a line in the sand. Are you with him, or against him? Are you for evil or against it?

I think that we need to be able to see good and evil for what they are and stop blurring the lines. We need to stop feeling guilt for rejoicing in seeing the demise of evil. We need to be thankful for those who were willing to put their lives on the line to bring justice and closure to the families of those who've lost so much. If you believe that you should mourn Osama bin Laden's death, because of some personal conviction- so be it. Feel free. By all means, if you think the Spirit is convicting you to mourn, do so. But don't go around attempting to bring guilt to those of us who do not feel that need. Allow us to rejoice in a God who is all-powerful, just, holy, righteous and sovereign as much as he is gracious and merciful. Let us rejoice that He is good to His word when he says, "If the righteous are rewarded here on earth, how much more true that the wicked and the sinner will get what they deserve."- Proverbs 11:31